Vendor setup
Register a business in Washington
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in Washington. Every line shows the official page it came from, and the day we read it.
The order to do it in
Choose a business type and get your EIN first. Then file with the state filing office below, and check your city and county before you start work.
Filing office
- Washington entities are formed with the Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, through its online filing system or by paper. A formation is followed by a business licence application to the Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service. Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
Forming an LLC
- A Washington LLC is formed by a Certificate of Formation (LLC), filed with the Secretary of State online or on paper. An Initial Report is due within 120 days and can be filed free with the formation document. Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Certificate of Formation filing fee: $180 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Optional expedited service, per entity, added: $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Optional same-day in-person service, added: $150 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Business Licence Application processing fee (Department of Revenue), added: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
- Minimum at formation, computed from the two lines above (Secretary of State fee plus the Department of Revenue processing fee): $230 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
Forming a corporation
- A Washington profit corporation files Articles of Incorporation – Profit Corporation with the Secretary of State, online or on paper. Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Articles of Incorporation filing fee: $180 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Optional expedited service, per entity, added: $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Optional same-day in-person service, added: $150 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Business Licence Application processing fee (Department of Revenue), added: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
- Minimum at formation, computed from the two lines above (Secretary of State fee plus the Department of Revenue processing fee): $230 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
Annual or biennial report
- Washington LLCs and profit corporations file annual reports every year by the entity’s expiration date, which is the last day of the month in which it was first formed. The report can be filed up to 180 days early. Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Annual report fee: $70 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
- Annual report filed late, total including the delinquency fee: $95 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- Washington trade names are registered with the Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service, not the Secretary of State. Adding a trade name to an existing licence carries the processing fee below, plus a separate trade name fee. Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
- Processing fee for an application “for any other purpose”, such as registering a trade name: $10 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
State tax registration
- A business registers with the Department of Revenue and gets a business licence if its gross income reaches the yearly threshold below, if it uses a name other than the owner’s full legal name, plans to hire within 90 days, collects sales tax, owes Department of Revenue taxes or fees, or needs an endorsement. Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
- Gross income threshold for a business licence, yearly: $12,000 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
Statewide business licence
- Washington requires a state business licence through the Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Service, plus any endorsement fees. Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
- Processing fee to open or reopen a business, non-refundable: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
- Annual renewal processing fee, per location: $5 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
- Late renewal: half the endorsement fee, up to this amount, added: $150 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service, as of
State rules for pool, lifeguard and contractor work
These lines point to the state’s own rules. Whether one applies to your work is for the state to say, so confirm with the agency named in each line.
- Washington requires all construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor & Industries and to be bonded and insured. L&I regulates 63 contractor specialties. Washington Department of Labor & Industries, as of
- Washington Department of Health rules (WAC 246-260, Water Recreation Facilities) state that all pool facilities must have a water treatment operator, with operator training and certification set out in the rule’s appendix table. Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser) / Department of Health, as of
City and county licences
City and county licences vary by place. Check with your city hall or county clerk before you start work.
Sources
- Limited Liability Company (LLC) & Professional LLC (PLLC) Filing Resource Page Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division. As of .
- Fee Schedules & Priority Services Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division. As of .
- Variable business license processing fees Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service. As of .
- All Business Entity Forms by Name Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division. As of .
- Apply for a business license Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service. As of .
- Register as a Contractor Washington Department of Labor & Industries. As of .
- WAC 246-260-131 Operation of water recreation facilities Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser) / Department of Health. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
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